Communications is the oil of your project. Effective communication helps: build trust, mutual understanding, strong and healthy relationships within/out of the organization.
Communications between project managers, subject matter experts and the project owner tend to break down once teams get into the thick of the work. Its also common for the failure to be identified at the most inconvenient stage, when the impact on costs, schedules and scope is at its highest meaning resolving issues will disrupt the project plan, cost and delivery date.
What are the reasons?
(i) End user i.e. project owner makes the wrong assumptions or requested project management whilst still forming their thoughts on expectations.
(ii) Project Manager has not taken the time to ask “The End User” key questions nor allowed for feedback between the two.
(iii) Team members (i.e. project manager and subject matter experts) don’t respect/trust each other enough to have the right conversation at the right time to ensure collective understanding.
In order for your communication to run smoothly and help you achieve your goals unimpeded, ensure that project stakeholders are informed of project risks and potential impacts at all times. And also set clear, concise expectations and ensure that they are clearly and unambiguously understood by all parties.
After delegating tasks, you need to be constantly in touch with your team members, checking that your message is clear and everyone is aware of what they have to do, taking inputs from them, listening to their issues/concerns and promptly addressing.
Lastly, very important to involve every member of the execution team at key briefing meetings to avoid diluted or half-baked information.